Help me decide, 3 trucks I need to pick 1 from.

[4570Man]

The wife and I were just talking about this yesterday. If a 2WD is all you need for towing on pavement she says a GM is about all one can buy off a lot, esp new. I don't know for sure but she says that if you look at a Dodge or Ford pickup in 2WD it will be a special order. If on hard top in that part of the country and you can stomach a GM that may be the hot setup.

I remember driving a 2WD Chevy 3/4T long box dually in the winter, in snow. That was one of the worst experiences in winter driving I can recall.

Buying a 2wd truck is just dumb. A 2wd truck can’t even go on moist grass. It’s not that much money upfront and 2wd knocks way more off your resale value than you saved upfront.

 

[paulsharvey]

Buying a 2wd truck is just dumb. A 2wd truck can’t even go on moist grass. It’s not that much money upfront and 2wd knocks way more off your resale value than you saved upfront.

Ok, so I'll give the thought process i heard from an old man, site business owner, and his old 7.3L. "Why on earth would I want a 4wd, less payload, less towing, worse milage, taller step, and if i ever get stuck, there is always a piece of equipment around to pull me out"

I dont necessarily agree, but if youre towing every day, hot shot, equipment transport, ect; he wasnt wrong.

 

[4570Man]

Having to get out and hook up a chain every time it’s even a little moist sucks. Having to load at the road when you could have went a few hundred feet closer sucks. Having to drag your truck a few feet by yourself and get out and correct the steering and repeat the process sucks. I’ve had 2wd trucks and trust me it sucks. If you’re going over the road I’d say it’s even worse. Have to pay even one wrecker bill would offset a lot of fuel savings. People are good at convincing themselves what they have is better. I seriously doubt many people that actually have owned a 4x4 truck are trading them in for 2wds.

 

[deserteagle71]

Ok, so I'll give the thought process i heard from an old man, site business owner, and his old 7.3L. "Why on earth would I want a 4wd, less payload, less towing, worse milage, taller step, and if i ever get stuck, there is always a piece of equipment around to pull me out"

I dont necessarily agree, but if youre towing every day, hot shot, equipment transport, ect; he wasnt wrong.

My Dad bought his first 4wd truck, a 1963 Ford 3/4 ton, brand spanking new and all the neighbors used to give him crap, using about the same arguments as you are putting forth. Till a January storm rolled around, with 3' of fresh snow. Guess who they called when they had to get out? That 1963 hi-boy plowed right through the snow drifts. And when chained up on all four it was pretty much unstoppable.

 

[paulsharvey]

I'm not saying that thought really fits everyone, but there is a reason to buy 2wd. Now, it also hurts resale. A clapped out, 2wd truck, worth almost nothing. A 4wd truck, even without an engine, still worth something as a mud truck.

Plenty of trucks will never leave at worst, a gravel surface.

Also, when I worked for the county, we had a 1500 GMC, 4.3L, reg cab, 2wd, street tires; and that thing would get stuck on wet grass....

I had gotten a new work truck when I worked there, 5.0 F150, reg cab, 4wd, with locking rear on a knob or switch. That thing could go through some bad stuff with just the e-locker, in 2wd. Save 4wd to get out of the worst of the worst

Had a 2wd, reg cab Dakota, 2.5L, that thing would Bury down in sand...

 

[mike69440]

Wow three new engines under warranty ? What happened to cause that ?
I am currently a Ford f150 owner with 10 speed automatic, very often hearing of folks having problems with them but so far mine has been flawless.

Currently in our household we have 1/2 tons, We factory ordered a heavy towing spec 2018 F150 and last year purchased my 2012 Pro-4X Titan. Both are fitted with E load spec. Michelins, Air Bag springs premium shocks, etc. & on the Titan their are some performance mods along with a big tranny cooler and other accessories.
Titan is used to primarily tow a 8000 lb. camper and F-150 a 12k flat bed. We have dump trailer and horse trailer plus other small trailers.
If we used the Flat bed and camper heavily, of course a HD pickup would be the better safer choice, but considering their overall use, I'm glad we have half tons.
I would consider spending some serious money on the old 2002 dually if it's bones are still good & solid, or go with a newer 7.3L Ford gasser over a diesel. Depending on miles per year, if high mileage, then only then would a diesel be cost effective.
In any case your needs require at least a 3/4 ton.
Personally, I was willing to spend $17k on an old $11k truck that is now more capable than most new trucks off the lot. (Aside from being a gas hog.)
New trucks will end up being mechanical totals, as they will be too expensive to repair.

 

[mike69440]

Im not a big fan of the idea of 10K behind a 150.....Can it do it.. yes. But the driving would be stressful and that alone would be enough for me to move up to a 250 or more. Even a 350 as those are 1500 or so more and have better resale. Getting a 23 or 24 as long as its full 5/100K warranty.. Really splitting hairs, They are basically the same truck with no significant differences. If paying cash.. Buy the cheaper one.. If financing,, Buy the one with the best rate. .. And financing it allows you to deduct the interest because of the BBB that was signed yesterday.

Credit unions may or may not give you a lower cost of ownership. I got a stupid low cash price on a 2018 Buick, so the Credit Union was the best way to finance. Investigate all options before signing.

 

[Hay Dude]

Here’s the Ford 7.3L “godzilla” gas torque curve everyone has wet dreams about lol

460 ft lbs?

Today’s stock diesel makes more than twice that at lower RPM consuming less fuel.
Heck my smaller displacement Cummins 6.7L, de-rated cab & chassis makes like 800 ft lbs at less than 1/2 the rpm of the “godzilla”.

I mean no offense, but that’s actually pretty lame, IMO

 

[4570Man]

Here’s the Ford 7.3L “godzilla” gas torque curve everyone has wet dreams about lol

View attachment 3760488


460 ft lbs?

Today’s stock diesel makes more than twice that at lower RPM consuming less fuel.
Heck my smaller displacement Cummins 6.7L, de-rated cab & chassis makes like 800 ft lbs at less than 1/2 the rpm of the “godzilla”.

I mean no offense, but that’s actually pretty lame, IMO

It’s almost the same torque the “legendary” 7.3 made.

 

[Hay Dude]

It’s almost the same torque the “legendary” 7.3 made.

Very few people seek out the 7.3L powerstroke anymore. Its a huge engine with low output.
I look at the 7.3L gasser and I’m like, “meh-whats all the hype about”?

However, Cummins & Duramax are real popular at the track and the pulls.

 

[4570Man]

Very few people seek out the 7.3L powerstroke anymore. Its a huge engine with low output.
I look at the 7.3L gasser and I’m like, “meh-whats all the hype about”?

However, Cummins & Duramax are real popular at the track and the pulls.

I’m not sure about that. A 7.3 that’s not clapped sells for retarded money.

 

[deserteagle71]

I’m not sure about that. A 7.3 that’s not clapped sells for retarded money.

They do here in Nevada! A 5.9 Cummins and a 7.3 Powerstroke in decent shape sell for big bucks around here. The Duramax not so much but that's mainly because of the IFS.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’m not sure about that. A 7.3 that’s not clapped sells for retarded money

Maybe some guys like to go slow, but look good doin it.

 

[Paystar]

Very few people seek out the 7.3L powerstroke anymore. Its a huge engine with low output.
I look at the 7.3L gasser and I’m like, “meh-whats all the hype about”?

However, Cummins & Duramax are real popular at the track and the pulls.

The hype is they are simple, reliable and they get awesome fuel mileage. And were in a good chassis. And most people don't care about winning the pulling competition.
You can get 500 h.p. out of a 7.3 if you like spending money. What more do you need?
I used to love driving one 4 hours up the highway with a load in the bed and looking at the fuel gauge that was still almost on full, LOL

 

[Hay Dude]

I ran 8 different 7.3’s in my construction business from mid 90’s to 2005.
Fuel mileage on mine wasn’t that great. I got 11-13 around town. I liked the Ford chassis options, but the engine power/cu in was really low.
I hot rodded 2 of them only to realize their transmissions wouldn’t hold much more than factory horsepower.

Looking back, it seems like there were not much better choices then, but today they seem like an underpowered relic.

 

[Hay Dude]

The hype is they are simple, reliable and they get awesome fuel mileage. And were in a good chassis. And most people don't care about winning the pulling competition.
You can get 500 h.p. out of a 7.3 if you like spending money. What more do you need?
I used to love driving one 4 hours up the highway with a load in the bed and looking at the fuel gauge that was still almost on full, LOL

By “hype” I’m talking about the guys who hype them up to be so unbelievably powerful.
The “godzilla” is a 444 cubic inch engine that makes less torque than a 426 hemi (490 ft lbs) from 50 years ago, and is a lot more complicated.
That’s what I mean by “hype”.
Why is that so great?

 

[Paystar]

By “hype” I’m talking about the guys who hype them up to be so unbelievably powerful.
It’s a 444 cubic inch engine that makes less torque than a 426 hemi (490 ft lbs) from 50 years ago and is a lot more complicated.

Why is that so great? Askin for a friend.

Well, they were a powerhouse at the time they were being put in trucks. It's just that everything since is publishing huge numbers now. Even the old 5.9 Cummins of those days were no stronger. But they were also very reliable.

 

[Hay Dude]

Well, they were a powerhouse at the time they were being put in trucks. It's just that everything since is publishing huge numbers now. Even the old 5.9 Cummins of those days were no stronger. But they were also very reliable.

Oh the 5.9L was much stronger.
Not rated higher in HP/TQ, but able to be modified for 1,000HP fairly easily.
The conn rods, pistons, crank were far stronger.

I would go to the pulls, and other than a scant few odd 7.3’s and maybe a guy who dropped a DT-466 in a pickup, the 5.9L ruled the winners circle at truck pulls from 1995 to 2015.
The 5.9/6.7 still fares real well even today.

 

[Paystar]

Oh the 5.9L was much stronger.
Not rated higher in HP/TQ, but able to be modified for 1,000HP fairly easily.
The conn rods, pistons, crank were far stronger.

I would go to the pulls, and other than a scant few odd 7.3’s and maybe a guy who dropped a DT-466 in a pickup, the 5.9L ruled the winners circle at truck pulls from 1995 to 2015.
The 5.9/6.7 still fares real well even today.

Well yes, Cummins can be modified to no end with cubic dollars. But we had Dodge duallies at same time as F350's with 7.3's and the Dodges were slugs.

 

[dodge man]

@haydude I’m a big fan of classic Mopars. The 426 Hemi is a legend for many reasons but simple isn’t one. First off the horsepower and torque numbers were gross not net, take at least 10 to 15% off those numbers. They had dual 4 barrel carbs, solid lifter cam and dual point distributor. Not easy to keep running sharp. Very tough to compare old vs. new.